Cheetah is laying on her side.... please help

[jaimslee4u]

Yesterday Cheetah was laying under the ramp by herself when the others were out in the coop. I thought she was laying her first egg. I checked on them last night and they were all cuddled up together, but no egg. I checked on them this am and she was laying on her side. Her legs were together laying to the side. She seems to be pooping ok. Its hard to tell with three other girls in there. I tried to give her water this am with food and she just ate a little. What could be wrong. I picked her up and didn't see any trauma. It does seem that she is just holding her legs out to the side. I tried to put her down on the ground to walk but she just flopped over.

Any ideas????

She is a 19 wk old barred rock. Crumbles. Shavings in her coup with hay in the nest boxes that no one uses yet. They get bread on occasion but not a lot of veggies. Not moulting.

 

[LynneP]

It may be an injury, check every part of this girl for that- bruises, NECK, bottom of feet, etc. Check vent for pulsing.

You should search for research on Marek's disease, just in case, too.

Segregate, have her in warm spot no drafts, very deep bedding. Can she sit upright in those circumstances?

 

[chickenzoo]

Have they been wormed?, Have you noticed any of them fluffed up, loss of weight or staying aloof in the last few days.....

 

[jaimslee4u]

Her head and body are up, but the bottom half is to the side. They have not officially been wormed, but I do throw some DE in there food every couple of weeks. I haven't noticed any odd behavior. Everyone seems to look healthy. Feathers all good, eating & drinking well. Poop looks good and whole. Still begging and greeting people when they leave and come home. I didn't have time to segregate her this morning but she will be coming in tonight. I actually set up my dog kennel for my chicks when needed. It works out great. They are safe, warm, and I can monitor her. I will just have to slowly introduce her back to the cold.

 

[LynneP]

At the very least get a multivitamin into her water, in case her demands are high for E, D or B vitamins. You can use baby vitamins ( no added iron) or poultry vitamins and be sure she is getting lots of protein, and some of her regular feed dampened with water. Then get back to use so we can help you with this. Note at least 4 other posts on the same subject over the past 48 hours. Be sure to research Marek's- hoping not, but do the reading!

 

[jaimslee4u]

I will - updates tommorow...

 

[wombat]

Check this, just in case:

http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/Avian/mareks2.pdf

http://extension.unh.edu/Agric/Docs/mareks.pdf

 

[horsejody]

Do the legs appear to be paralyzed? If so, do a search on Marek's.

 

[chickenzoo]

Also do you have a rough rooster in with them. i once had a banty roo that got attacked by another one. In a few hours he lost control of his legs and just laid on his side. I gave him vitamins and vitamin E, made sure he could get to food and shallow water and let him rest in a cage away from everyone. It took a month but he regained his legs and became normal again......

 

[LynneP]

Any news?